Young actors to perform 'Cinderella' on Saturday

Wednesday

Jul 10, 2013 at 11:48 AM

The prince from "Cinderella" has a cell phone. Well, at least he does in the Young Players Summer Theatre Camp version.

BY NASH DUNNThe Dispatch

The prince from "Cinderella" has a cell phone. Well, at least he does in the Young Players Summer Theatre Camp version.It's one of the many more modern attributes applied to the classic Disney story line by director Bob Dye and the dozens of child actors from throughout Davidson County who will perform the play this weekend.The Young Players camp, sponsored by the Edward C. Smith Civic Center, will perform "Cinderella" at 10 a.m. and noon Saturday at the civic center at 217 S. Main St. Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased at the door.Dye said 36 young actors from ages 4-11 will perform the classic, which has other modern twists like a costume spectrum that ranges from the 1970s to that of the ongoing popular reality TV competition, "Project Runway."Many of the young actors, like 9-year-old Sidney Briggs, said they were already familiar with the story line from watching the popular Disney cartoon movie. Briggs, who will play one of Cinderella's two stepsisters, Anastasia, said she was happy when she received her part."I thought it would be fun to act mean once in a while, and I've done it before," Sidney said, laughing and adding that she had two sisters and one brother. "I've been evil before."The summer theatre camp, which has previously been called the Davidson County Youth Summer Theater Program and before that Davidson County Schools Summer Stock Program, will not include an older group performance this year, as it has in the past.Dye said the group went into debt after the performances of "101 Dalmatians" and "Guys and Dolls" last year, and the civic center's board of directors decided to sponsor a performance solely for young actors this summer."They are doing a really good job," Dye said of the young actors. "They have all watched the movies and for some reason keep asking me where the cat is. I have to keep telling them there is no cat in this version."The Young Players version does include most of the same characters from the Disney classic, however, in addition to familiar song titles and melodies. The entire show will last about 45 minutes, Dye said."It's ideal for people to bring young children to," he said.Dye's grandson, Ryder Dye, is playing the prince in the production who ultimately falls for Cinderella, who will be played by Madeline Blackwell.Ryder said there aren't many things he loves more than being on stage and interacting with his fellow young actors."I've really enjoyed meeting people," Ryder said. "I can't say anything bad about any of this. There's nothing I've ever done with theater that I haven't enjoyed."Ryder, who is 11 years old, said he's performed in a number of his grandfather's plays, including "101 Dalmatians," "Guys and Dolls" and "Look Homeward, Angel.""Theater and sports are my main goals for when I get older," Ryder said.Emilee Crowell, who will play Cinderella's other stepsister, Drizella, said she, too, has been a part of Dye's plays in the past."If you get to know him well, he comes on stage and acts out different characters," Emilee said, snickering. "It's really fun."Cast members, not listed above, are: Will Cunningham as Duke, Emma West as Godmother, Kinsey Calderone as Gus, Olivia Crim as Herald, Isabella Ellis as Jaq, Reese Ramsey as King, Xander Bostick as Luke, Natalie Boger as Mouse, Hadley Briggs as Mouse, Lyndon Briggs as Mouse, Madison Clodfelter as Mouse, Wyatt Cooper as Mouse, Emma DeRemer as Mouse, Maggie DeRemer as Mouse, Ava Jane Hartley as Mouse, Kelcie Sledge as Mouse, Izzy Sarnicola as Narrator 1, Brooke Boger as Narrator 2, Carsen Milner as Narrator 3, Waverly Blackwell as Narrator 4, Annie Ward as Perla, Reagan Crowell as Stepmother, Arianna Measmer as Town Crier 1, Brooks Calderone as Town Crier 2, Hallie Jackson as Town Crier 3, Summer Cook as Town Crier 4, Leah Crowell as Townsperson, Caroline Cunningham as Townsperson, Kalea Hailey as Townsperson, Lauren Huneycutt as Townsperson, Rachel Huneycutt as Townsperson and Emma O'Connell as Townsperson.Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at nash.dunn@the-dispatch.com. Follow Nash on Twitter: @LexDispatchNash

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